I’ve been looking around in my area, MD, and it’s quite a struggle. For private lessons (1 hour) you can get $55-$75 dollars with local trainers. With the larger commercial barns the price is $80-$115+ which is insane to me. And group or semi group lessons are not a big difference from private lessons so the price is still very high.
I expected some “sticker shock” with horse stuff moving here, but I still disagree that those rates are reasonable, considering these quotes are from people who’ve run maybe a couple 1*s and have no real credentials to speak of.
As has been said before, lesson prices in NY are all over the place. In my hometown in Westchester county (just outside of New York City), lesson prices run $75-$100/hour private. My old trainer used to sell lesson packages - 11 lessons for $750. So one lesson was free.
I’m currently attending college in Upstate NY (Rochester area), and lesson prices generally run $30-$45. $30 for a hour large group lesson on a school horse at a big lesson and show barn, or $35 for a semi-private on my own horse at my boarding barn. Hour private lesson runs $45.
Tryon, NC here-I pay $60 a ride, group or private. That’s pretty standard around here for quality instruction, and you can’t swing a cat without hitting a trainer/instructor these days.
Everything about the way she runs her program is excellent. The lessons are punctual, the whole facility is in top shape (especially footing), the staff is friendly, and barn drama is not tolerated. I trailer in.
She keeps me safe, and my pony happy.
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I am a microcosm of lesson fees - having had the good fortune to have my Trainer (ridden &.showed to GP - Dressage - on her own horses) come to my personal barn for over 10yrs.
Just me here, so lessons are always private.
I am pretty independent, so even if we happen to be at the same shows I do not require coaching.
Also she is willing to work with the Science Experiment horses (not purpose-bred) I have presented her with over the years.
She rarely gets on, but I learn all I need from her being on the ground.
Annual clinics with a national BNT keep her sharp & I get his expertise 2ndhand.
We intend to lesson 2X/month, but Life happens and we average at least 1X, sometimes more often, sometimes less.
I pay $55 for a 1h lesson.
I ride with a BNT who in her early years, represented canada in the olympics, she charges (a very reasonable imo) $85.00 per lesson. I’m in the PNW.
SE PA.
my pick of many top level trainers. All trailer in on my own horse. Jumper (GP level trainers) 85-150. Top level eventers and Dressage are similar with some higher for Dressage.
Prices really depend on trainer and their relationship with me.
Around $85 for jumper focused barn nearby with the assistant trainer (private). I think it would be $100 per lesson with the BNT. I haul my horse there.
Around $50 for lessons with not BN trainers.
I’m near Fort Worth, Texas (closer to Weatherford than Pilot Point/Argyle)
I don’t think many trainers out here would go to the client’s home for lessons.
Sigh. I think I pay about $80 for a private and $45 for a group lesson. I’m in an expensive little pocket of Maryland though. I could definitely get cheaper lessons if I trailered out to them, but then you have associated gas and trailering costs and hassle.
I’m in central MD (D.C./Baltimore suburb) in a pricey and very horsey area. It varies a bit, but a “typical” private runs in the $50-70 range with a local trainer. There’s obviously quite a few BNT’s around here, and then the price quickly runs up into the $100+ range, understandably. Group lessons at nice barns in this region are in the $40-50 range.
I’ve been lessoning at a barn (on school horses, since my guy is currently NQR) where groups are around $50ish and privates are double that. The group rate is normal and the private rate is…not exactly reasonable given what else is charged in the area at nicer facilities/more established trainers. So I rarely take privates there.
In Connecticut almost 15 years ago I was paying $50 for private lessons on my own horse. When I was In Washington state my BO taught her boarders for free once a week or when she saw us struggling. Now in Virginia I pay $50 for private lessons, again on my own horse. The first barn I was at here it was $50 for a group lesson and definitely not worth it IMO.
All that being said a lot has to do with what you can bring to the table as a coach.
I’m in upstate SC and paid $35 for an hour group lesson at a beginner barn. Lessons could only be purchased in packages of 8 and a school horse was included in the price. The last barn I was at was $50 for an hour lesson whether it was private/group or school horse/trailer in. It was a much nicer facility and had excellent H/J trainers.
What level do you have experience teaching and what level do you want to teach?
A typical Michigan lesson is $40/hour, but I have seen prices up to $80 for an hour lesson.
I ride in Michigan and it totally depends on the discipline. As a hunter/jumper, I pay $40 for 1/2 hour on my trainer’s horses. I don’t know many trainers in the area who are willing to travel to your barn. Depending on the area, I’ve seen private 1/2 hour lessons for $60.
I’m outside of Baltimore at a farm with a very busy schedule. For about $60, I can take an hourlong group lesson or a half hour private. This is consistent with my experience at other farms in the area. Pricing is the same on my own horse or a school horse.
Middle of nowhere New Hampshire here. Was paying $60 for an hour long private on my own horse trucked in at a local barn (mostly caters to beginners but coach had good credentials). They raised prices last year to $75/hour for main coach, $60/hour for the assistant who taught beginners. I stopped taking lessons there because I couldn’t stomach paying $75 weekly for iffy instruction where the facility was lacking (“indoor” was about 35’x45’, no outdoor ring, lessons were done in ungroomed grass field).
Swapped to a barn 2ish hours away where I pay $50/private, $40/hour semi-private. By the time I pay gas it’s about the same, but facility and footing is very nice and instruction is decent.
